Pixar directors honoured at Venice Film Festival

THE Venice Film Festival made history on Sunday (September 6, 2009) when it bestowed lifetime achievement awards upon five Pixar directors.

Director-producer John Lasseter (Toy Story 1 & 2 and Cars) joined Brad Bird (Ratatouille and The Incredibles), Pete Docter (Up and Monsters Inc.), Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo and Wall-E), and Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3) in receiving the accolades.

The studio was collectively rewarded for its work in creating a new generation of childhood memories populated by characters such as Nemo, Wall-E, Remy, Woody and Sulley.

Commenting afterwards, Lasseter told reporters: “We really set out to deeply entertain an audience, not just children but adults as well. Filmmaking and animation is one of the most collaborative art forms there is in the world, and it is never more collaborative than it is at Pixar.”

In the 23 years since Pixar was founded, the North California based company has pioneered digital computer animation and made 10 feature films, four of which have won Oscars since the animation category was introduced in 2001.

To mark the occasion, the festival also premiered 3D versions of Toy Story 1 & 2, which are due to be released theatrically in the US this autumn.